No abstract

The rule of thumb in marine trophodynamics indicates that the bigger an organism, the higher its trophic level (TROPH). This generalization leads to the assumption that fishes increase their TROPH with growth. However, a recent review showed that for many species, TROPH does not increase with body size, suggesting that size‐independent feeding is not rare in marine fishes. Here, we assessed some morphological traits of marine fishes that could potentially be used as indicators for the ability to vary TROPH with body size. Stable isotope values of nitrogen were used as a proxy TROPH. The specific objectives were as follows: (a) to evaluate the relationship between the oral gape and the trophodynamic trend and (b) to quantify the relevance of 11 external morphological traits in determining the size‐based trophodynamics. We used random forest models to identify the morphological traits that would help predict which species would have the potential to increase TROPH with growth and which would have not. The selected traits included the pelvic fin relative position, the dorsal fin shape, total length, and relative mouth size. Our results also showed a marked relationship between the rate of increase in the oral gape and TROPH. The analyses presented here provide the first comprehensive and quantitative review aiming at linking the trophodynamics of marine fishes with external morphological traits.

Summary In this study the first length–weight relationships are provided for Helcogrammoides cunninghami and Ribeiroclinus eigenmanni inhabiting subtidal rocky areas in northern Patagonia, and for Hypleurochilus fissicornis inhabiting intertidal rocky areas in Buenos Aires Province. Specimens were collected between 2009 and 2016, from seven different locations in northern Patagonia and Buenos Aires Province (Southwest Atlantic Coast; 37°–42°S), using a trawling dredge or a small hand net. New maximum lengths were recorded for R. eigenmanni and H. fissicornis.